Button-holder



(No Model.)

B. T. ELLIOTT & W. 0. LYLES.

BUTTON HOLDER.

No. 431,257. V Patented July 1, 1890.

//v VENTOH z' I. 2172: 7022 77' 0. fiyzes ATTORNEYS Warren STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE T. ELLIOTT AND \VILLIAM O. LYLE S, OF DANVILLE, VIRGINIA.

BUTTON-HOLDER.

. SPECIFICATION forming part'of Letters Patent No. 431,257, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed September 23, 1889. Serial No. 324,844. (No model.)

To alZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EUGENE T. ELLIOTT and WILLIAM O. LYLES, of Danville, in the county of Iittsylvania and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ButtonJ-Iolders, of which the following is a specification.

()u r invention is an improved button-holder for use on boxes, drawers, and the like used for holding buttons; and the invention seeks to provide a simple convenient construction for attaching the display or sample button to such drawer, such construction being adjustable to permit of its holding buttons of different size.

The invention consists in certain features of construction and novel combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of our improved button-holder. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Figs. 3, a, and 5 are detail views. Fig. 6 is a detail transverse section.

()ur invention comprises a suitable frame or case and an adjustable button-clasp connected therewith. The case or frame A may be of any suitable design, but is preferably made as shown, having a circular central portion or center piece a, concentrically within which we arrange the button-clasp, so that the center piece forms in a measure a frame or background for the button. At one side of the center piece we provide a price-mark receiver B, which is preferably made by securing to a disk on the case a slate of any suitable substance, on which the price or other suitable mark may be indicated and conveniently erased, if desired. At the side of the center piece opposite the price-mark receiver we arrange the handle portion of the lever,

presently described.

By preference we form the button-clasp of a plurality of claws 13, formed of Wire, mov able through openings (1 in the front plate of the case, adapted at their outer ends to grip the button, connected at their inner ends with the free end of a spring I), and so bent between their ends that as they are forced out ward their front ends will diverge or spread apart, so that the farther such claws are forced forward or ejected the larger the button that may be received and held thereby. The spring D is secured at one end to the case or frame and is connected at its opposite or free end with the inner ends of the claws, such connection being effected by pivoting the inner ends of the claws to the spring, which pivoting is preferably accomplished in the manner which we will now describe. To this end we form the free end of the spring with a round or head-like portion (Z, in which we form seats or cavities d, corresponding in number to the number of claws, which obviously may be increased, if desired. These claws are formed at their inner ends with base-like portions 1), which fit partially in the seats or cavities cl and partially in cavities E, and are secured therein by the retainingplate E, which has openings cforthe passage of the claws, fits thereover down against the portion (Z of the spring, and has flanges e bent under such spring to secure the plateE to the latter.

Now while the claws may be grasped. by the fingers and drawn outward to insert a button therein such operation is inconvenient and tedious and requires considerable time when a number of buttons are to be inserted in a number of holders. It is therefore preferred to employ the lever F, pivoted between its ends within the ease or frame, having one end arranged to engage the free end of the spring, so that it may actuate the same to eject the claws. and having its other end provided with a button or. handle portion at the side of the center piece opposite the price-mark slate. By pushing on such end of the lever it is caused to operate the button-grasping claws outward, as will be readily understood.

lVhen desired, the ease or frame may be provided with a ring, as G, for use as a handle in manipulating the box-lid or drawer.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is 1. The improved button-holder comprising the frame or case, the adjustable holdingclaws, the spring whereby said claws are retracted, and the lever pivoted between its ends and arranged at one end for engagement by the finger and at its opposite end to spread the claws when operated, substantially as set forth.

2. The improved article of manufacture herein described, comprising the frame or case having a center piece or portion, the adj ustable button-holding claws operating within said center piece, the spring by which said claws are retracted, the lever by which such claws may be operated in opposition to the spring, such lever having a button or handle portion arranged at one side of the center iece and a rice-mark receiver arran ed at the opposite side of such center piece, substantially as set forth.

claws having their base portions fitted in said seats or cavities, and the retaining-plate having openings for the passage of the claws, and flange-like securing portions bent under the spring and serving to hold the claws thereto, substantially as set forth.

4. The improved button-holder herein described, comprising aframe or casing and an adjustable button-clasp connectedtherewith and consistingof a number of longitudinallymovable spring-actuated claws constructed to diverge to receive and to contract to grasp and secure a button between them, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a button-holder, substantially as described, the combination, with the frame or case having a circular portion or center piece,

of an adjustable button-clasp operating concentrically within said circular portion or center piece and constructed to secure a butinner ends of the claws, substantially as set forth.

7. An improved button-holder consisting of the frame or case provided with a price-mark receiver, and the button-holding claws supported by said frame or case and adapted to secure the button, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, in a button-holder, of the casing or frame, the button-holding claws movable in said casing or frame, the spring for retracting said claws, and the levers by which to force such claws outward, such spring and lever being supported by the cas' ing or frame, substantially as set forth.

EUGENE T. ELLIOTT. \VILLIAM O. LYLES. \Vitnesses:

A. T. BURR, J r., Gno. G. TEMPLE. 

